THE INFLUENCE OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON FLAVONOIDS CONTENT DURING STORAGE OF IRRADIATED CLEMENTINA

The influence of Gamma irradiation on content of some important flavon oids (flavonones glycosides and polymethoxylated flavones) was evaluat ed during storage of Moroccan clementina treated at a mean dose of 0.3 kGy and stored three months at 3'C. Results shows that at day one, ga mma irradiation induced degradation of small quantities of these flavo noids, however after 14 days of storage, the content of these compound s was significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0.05) in irradiate d samples. Irradiation stimulated biosynthesis of flavonoids after 14 days of storage. Hesperidin was the major flavanones compounds in clem entines. Nobiletin and Heptamethoxyflavone were the major polymethoxyl ated flavones in clementines. Our study demonstrated that the content of these compounds was significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0 .05) in irradiated samples.